Sydney’s deathcore heavyweights have announced that their vocalist, CJ McMahon, has left the band.

The group broke the news via Facebook, with a lengthy statement confirming that the singer, who joined Thy Art in 2010, will now “[move] onward to start a family and new life with his loving fiancée”.

The band’s statement also seems to suggest that they felt McMahon’s priorities have shifted away from the project.

“We like to think that even if someone doesn’t like our music that they can at least respect our work ethic,” they write.

“…We are an underground metal band, and have been so fortunate over the last two years to carve out a small income thanks to so many dedicated and generous fans around the world. For some people, it comes to a turning point in their life where that income is no longer enough for their personal goals, and that point has come for CJ.

“We would like to wish him all our best as he leaves the band and moves onward to start a family and new life with his loving fiancée.”

But in some good news for fans, it seems that the remaining foursome have rallied quickly for a replacement vocalist, to ensure that they won’t be missing a beat.

“The four of us are continuing forward into 2016 for some of the biggest and best tours of our lives. We won’t be slowing down or missing any shows,” they pledge.

Nick Arthur from Molotov Solution – whom the fellas have described as one of their “favourite vocalists” – will be joining the band for their upcoming tour across Europe and UK with Parkway Drive and Architects and (presumably) their upcoming gig at Unify Gathering 2016.

The news comes as Thy Art Is Murder wrap up one of their most successful years to date, following the release of their 3rd studio album, Holy War.

“Thy Art is what we have done with all of our adult lives and we have put absolutely everything we have into the band and the friendship between the four of us,” the band writes. “That friendship and drive to create extreme music is what has kept us together through thick and thin. Unfortunately not everyone can share this fire.”